Delivering Solutions to LNG & Petrochemical Sectors via UrePac ® Cryo Technology
Expertise in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) & Petrochemical Sectors
Cryogenic Applications
Pacific Urethanes has a long history of supplying UrePac® Cryo PIR & PUR foam systems in the LNG and Petrochemical industry sectors worldwide. These foam formulations have all been independently tested to comply with International SINI Standards. Our technical experts are engaged in research and development, providing innovative and sustainable technology for industry-wide thermal insulation solutions.
UrePac® Cryo closed-cell foam is used in applications operating at temperatures ranging from +70°C to -170°C. Formulations are available in a broad range of densities and compressive strengths, among other properties, to ensure the product’s performance characteristics meet the unique requirements of the applications. In particular, UrePac® Cryo provides exceptional thermal insulation, featuring one of the lowest k-factors among insulation materials used in cryogenic applications.
What is Cryogenic Insulation Systems?
Cryogenic Insulation limits the transmission of atmospheric heat in pipes or process equipment, maintaining the liquid or gas at its designated process temperature. The insulation must reliably prevent heat exchange between the pipes, tanks and plant structure. Cryogenic and below-ambient piping and tanks are insulated with closed-cell foam insulation, to ensure safe and efficient operations in these facilities.
Minimising heat gain is particularly important in cryogenic applications like LNG. So, installing PUR/PIR closed cell foam, as an insulation material that is both thermally efficient and moisture resistant, is critical.
Pacific Urethanes’ UrePac® Cryo foam systems are used in the manufacture of thermal insulation of industrial pipes, tanks, vessels and equipment used in cryogenic applications.
How Cryogenic LNG Applications Work
Typical Challenge
LNG Requirements
There has been an ongoing search for new energy supplies, resulting in the global rise in demand for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). This is because LNG is cheaper, energy efficient, and has lower carbon emissions than coal fuels. However, LNG, predominantly methane, is a natural gas that requires liquefaction and vaporisation. Since the liquefied temperature of natural gas is -162 °C at atmospheric pressure, maintaining the conversion from gas to liquid phase requires a High-Temperature Performance Insulation.
To transport and store LNG, it needs to prevent:
- Energy losses through thermal inefficiencies
- Freezing of valves
- Surface icing
- Flammability after vaporisation
Our Solution – UrePac ® Cryo
LNG Processing Plants
LNG is piped from the drilling rigs to the processing plants, where it is liquified by cooling to Cryogenic temperatures. To sustain the liquid phase, it is critical to maintain the cryogenic temperature in the pipes, pipe supports, valves, and flanges using high-performance thermal insulation. UrePac® Cryo technology has been specifically developed to meet these challenges.
LNG Transportation
LNG takes <0.2% of the volume than its gaseous counterpart, meaning approximately 600 times the volume can be transported as a liquid compared to a gas. It is, therefore, a highly efficient and cost-effective system to transport LNG through pipes that are heavily insulated with our PUR and PIR foam systems. Heavily insulated pipes can maintain temperatures as low as -170oC, ensuring the liquid gas doesn’t re-gasify as it travels through the pipes. The gas is loaded into non-pressured containers and re-gasified at an onshore facility.
Our Products
Cryogenic Insulation Applications
Cryogenic Insulation Applications
UrePac® Cryo – HD PUF Pipe Supports
Insulated pipe supports provide insulation in the support area where regular pipe insulation cannot be installed. The formulation is optimised to ensure that the pipe support can both carry the load and allow the necessary movement at each support point. These pipe supports may be manufactured at densities from 160 kg/m3 to 500 kg/m3, moulded by standard foam dispensing equipment or hand-mixed and poured. They may also be cut from a poured foam block. These formulations are water-blown, meaning that they have zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and minimal Global Warming Potential (GWP).
UrePac® Cryo – Pour-In-Place Cavity Filling Applications
Valves need to be insulated to prevent freezing and remain operational. In the past, such valves would be insulated in a time-consuming manual operation. UrePac® Cryo low-density PIR formulations allow the valve and other items, such as flanges, to be insulated quickly and simply in situ. These lower-density formulations (40 – 60 kg/m3), normally used to fill cavities such as valve boxes and flanges, are processed at the pipeline site. The pour-in-place formulations are HFC-blown, therefore having zero ODP.
UrePac® Cryo – PIR Block Foam
UrePac® Cryo formulations can be used to make PIR foam blocks which are then cut to pipe section or sheet form for pipe, tank and other technical insulation applications.
UrePac® Cryo – Pre-Insulated Pipes
Instead of taking pre-cut pipe insulation to the pipeline installation locations, pipes can be insulated in the factory using UrePac® Cryo PUR & PIR formulations – either spray-applied or by rotationally cast methods, under controlled process conditions. In this way the pipe is delivered to the pipeline locations pre-insulated, with the subsequent labour cost savings and efficiencies.
